January 20, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
A female prisoner at the DeKalb County Jail has been charged with assaulting a fellow inmate.
21 year old Emma Leigh Flesher of East Main Street, Liberty is under a $3,500 bond. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 31 Flesher assaulted a female inmate by intentionally kicking and punching her about the face and body while the victim was lying on her mattress in the floor of the cell.
47 year old Franklin Allan Knowles of Young Green Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court January 23. Knowles was further cited for roadways laned for travel, simple possession, and drug paraphernalia.
Sheriff Ray said that on January 6 a deputy was dispatched to the area of Dry Creek Road due to a vehicle on the side of the road with the driver slumped over in the seat and a passenger lying on the outside of the automobile. But before the deputy arrived, the vehicle had driven off.
The deputy spotted the automobile further down the road and noticed that it was unable to maintain its lane of travel and crossed into the oncoming lane several times. After stopping the vehicle, the officer spoke with the driver, Knowles. He (Knowles) had thrown up on his shirt and his speech was slurred. Knowles admitted to having consumed some moonshine. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.
Prior to his arrest, the officer found in Knowles’ pocket a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana which weighed 4.9 grams and on the passenger seat of the vehicle was a pipe.
Knowles’ passenger, 63 year old Roger Dale Page of Bethel Road, Smithville was charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will also be in court on January 23.
According to Sheriff Ray, Page had a strong odor of alcohol on him and he admitted to have been drinking. Page was placed under arrest for his safety and that of the public.
54 year old John Kevin Bass of Poplar Street, Sparta is charged with DUI. Bass’ bond is $1,500 and his court date is January 23. He was further cited for violation of the open container law and driving on roadways laned for travel.
Sheriff Ray said that on January 12 a deputy observed a red Ford truck failing to maintain its lane of travel. He conducted a traffic stop on Sparta Highway near Ollie Billings Road and spoke with the driver, Bass who had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on him. was asked to step out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety tasks. He submitted to the tasks but performed poorly. He was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Bass admitted to having consumed six beers and his prescription medication. The officer observed one empty beer bottle and an empty beer can on the passenger seat.